5 Latina Reproductive Justice Activists On How To Take Action
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The recent draft leak of the Supreme Court of the United States's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case has caused a variety of emotions, including fear and shock, among the American public. But for reproductive justice activists who have been ringing the alarm for years about the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, this draft leak was not surprising. For those who need a refresher, Roe v. Wade (1973) is the landmark lawsuit in which the Supreme Court ruled that the United States constitution upheld a women's right to abortion. Although Justice Alito's draft doesn't translate to immediate changes to the current law, many people are unsure where to go for accurate information and next steps.
As a first generation Nicaraguan Salvadoran abortion storyteller with WeTestify—an organization dedicated to the leadership and representation of people who have abortions, increasing the spectrum of abortion storytellers in the public sphere, and shifting the way the media understands the context and complexity of accessing abortion care—I urge Latinx folks to find ways to get activated to support access to abortion in this country. In conversations with other Latinxs, I've learned that many of us have grown up in households where abortion was never discussed. And in the instances where it was discussed, we were prohibited from getting an abortion due to religious or cultural beliefs. Whether your family still holds on to those beliefs or not, abortion justice is a Latinx issue and we need to protect our rights. We should be able to access abortion(s) without stigma, obstacles, and bans. To be able to access abortion is our right within the full spectrum of reproductive and sexual healthcare. Not having the right to decide when and if we want to expand our families only leads to further oppression of marginalized communities—especially without any sort of postpartum support for parents in place.
It might feel overwhelming on how to make a difference when standing up for abortion rights, but there are reproductive justice advocates already on the ground fighting for our reproductive autonomy.
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Eloisa Lopez (she/ella)
A first-generation Mexican woman currently serving as the Executive Director for Pro-Choice Arizona & the Abortion Fund of Arizona, Eloisa Lopez' first abortion opened her up to the possibility of parenthood. Now, a single parent of two, she is proud to share with others that becoming involved in movement work really saved her life. Her experiences of living through domestic violence as a pregnant person and fighting the family court system keep her grounded on the bigger vision of autonomy, abolition, and liberation. She is grateful for her three abortions which have supported her on her life path.
One action someone can take to stand up for reproductive justice: Donate to your local abortion fund!
Steph Herold (she/ella)
A Jewish Brazilian-American abortion rights activist and parent of two children, Steph Harold studies how abortion is portrayed on television and film at ANSIRH, working to understand the relationship between what we see onscreen and what happens in our cultures and our political landscape. She's on the Board of Directors of All-Options, the only national organization that supports folks through the whole spectrum of reproductive experiences: abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy, birth, and parenting.
One action someone can take to stand up for reproductive justice: There are so many possible ways to support reproductive justice work right now. The crucial thing is that you get plugged in to what feels meaningful and powerful for you. One great place to start is figuring out what you have bandwidth for: giving your time? Your dollars? Your talents? The National Network of Abortion Funds is currently in the midst of their Fund-a-thon, and I'm sure one near you could use your support! Look up your abortion fund at abortionfunds.org.
Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro MSW (she/her/ella)
As a proud bisexual Puerto Rican, Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro, an award winning reproductive justice advocate and clinical social worker based in Orlando, works as the Co-Executive Director of Florida Access Network, an organization that advocates for reproductive justice and provides logistical support to abortion-seekers in Florida.
She is an abortion funder and abortion storyteller. As a Latina who's had multiple abortions and experienced the cultural stigma attached to it she is driven to do this work by the love and compassion for people most affected by reproductive injustices and pushing back on stigma. She tells her abortion stories to destigmatize abortion and ensure people who have abortions feel loved, affirmed, and funds abortions to make sure people are tangibly supported.
One action someone can take to stand up for reproductive justice: Follow the lead of reproductive justice leaders especially those leading abortion funds, midwives, and doulas.
Fabiola Carrion (she/ella)
Fabiola Carrion immigrated to the United States with her family from Peru at the age of 13. She wears many hats as an attorney, advocate of reproductive justice, and the Director of Reproductive and Sexual Health at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP)—an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the health rights of individuals who have low incomes and are underserved. She also serves as the Executive Committee President of the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom.
One action someone can take to stand up for reproductive justice: As two-thirds of abortion patients are parents, she encourages readers to share their abortion stories and fight to destigmatize this essential health care.
Myra Gissel Duran (she/ella)
A first generation Chicana reproductive justice feminist, Myra Gissel Durán is the Senior Policy Advocate at If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice, where she supports their policy advocacy efforts, builds partnerships with state-based advocates, and facilitates opportunities of engagement for If/When/How and their constituencies.
One action someone can take to stand up for reproductive justice:
It's hard to pinpoint just one. Learning more about the safety of abortion pills, eliminating stigmatizing language around abortion with 1-1 conversations with loves ones around you, and taking a step back to look at the web of how different liberation movements are bound to one another are good places to start. I would also encourage people to divest from the punishment system because the criminalization of people who self-manage abortions (ending your pregnancy outside of a medical setting), like all forms of criminalization in our country, affects some people more than others because of their identities, their circumstances, and where they live. The same communities (BIPOC, youth, trans/gender expansive people, people dealing with economic insecurity, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ folks) for whom Roe v. Wade has never been enough,—but who would be the most impacted if it's overturned—are the communities who face the disproportionate violence of surveillance and criminalization around pregnancy outcomes. People can also donate any extra funds to building up the Repro Legal Defense Fund (RLDF), so that we're prepared for the next time someone is arrested or prosecuted for self-managing their abortion and ensure that no one faces this racist, unjust carceral system alone.
